GoKawiilEcologist Daisy Dent's studies show natural tropical forest regrowth can rival planting efforts
Research by ecologist Daisy Dent, drawing on long-term forest plots at Barro Colorado and sites in Panama and Brazil, found that naturally regenerating secondary forests can capture up to 11 times more carbon annually than old-growth forest. A 2022 Royal Society study she co-authored found that areas surrounded by rich wildlife can regain old-growth levels of species abundance within decades without any planting, and a 2024 follow-up showed plots with as little as 35% remaining tree cover can regenerate into forest.
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These findings could shift reforestation strategy away from costly tree-planting campaigns toward protecting and allowing degraded land to regrow on its own, particularly where surrounding ecosystems retain enough biodiversity to reseed cleared areas. Yale ecologist Liza Comita notes that the long-term plot data gives researchers infrastructure to translate such findings into real conservation projects, suggesting the work may influence how organizations prioritize funding between active restoration and natural regeneration.
- Naturally regenerated secondary forest can absorb carbon up to 11 times faster per hectare than old-growth forest.
- Surrounding biodiversity, not just planting, can restore old-growth levels of species richness within decades.
- Plots with as little as 35% remaining tree cover can still regenerate into forest without intervention.
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See Nikon Monarch M5 8x42 Binoculars on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: technologyreview.com — Matthew Ponsford, 2026-10-12
Published there as: “The ecologist revealing the invisible networks that revive rainforests”
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